C OV I D - 1 9 U P DAT E
ALERT LEVEL 2 COULDN’T COME SOON ENOUGH Century 21 has your health and safety, as well as that of our people, as our top priority.
Private viewings were initially a key
auctions, open homes, and rental
sticking point under Level 3, but the
viewings are back on - for less than
issue was quickly resolved thanks to
100 people.
the likes of the Real Estate Institute (REINZ) working closely with the Government.
“We’re anticipating plenty of activity in the coming weeks, with Kiwis keen to make decisions. Regardless of all the disruption, many families still want a bigger home, empty nesters still want to downsize, and first-home buyers still want to make the most of record-low interest
She says with lower deposits now required, the first-home market will benefit thanks to the Reserve Bank’s
Ms Mayne says despite real estate
decision last month to temporarily
transactions largely in hibernation
scrap its LVR restrictions. The
for over a month, Century 21 has
move will also bring more property
seen plenty of activity and has
investors into play.
used the time to lift its brand exposure through digital marketing and public relations.
What’s more, serious buyers didn’t disappear during lockdown. They just got onto their computers rather
rates,” says Derryn Mayne, Owner of
During the Level 4 lockdown,
than into their cars. In fact, Kiwis
Century 21 New Zealand.
Century 21 salespeople were busy
have been looking at property
doing the likes of virtual appraisals.
online in droves, with popular real
Under Level 3 they pushed
estate websites reporting more
play on listings, brought in the
traffic and longer average user
photographers, and organise
times over the past couple of
private viewings.
months.
Now under Level 2, real estate
“We are chomping at the bit,
offices have re-opened and all
but we’re also conscious it’s not
the usual real estate activity has
completely business as usual. With
resumed, with protocols in place.
clear guidelines in place for real
All activity needs to adhere to a
estate to operate safely under Level
minimum of one metre physical
2, we’re working harder than ever
distancing, hygiene etiquette must
for buyers and sellers alike,” says
be adhered, and records must
Derryn Mayne.
Her comments come as New Zealand now sits at Alert Level 2 after several weeks in the much more restrictive Levels 3 and 4. Level 4, which took out the end of March and almost all of April, represented almost total lockdown with real estate agents limited to the likes of phone calls and zoom meetings. Level 3, in late April and the first half of May, enabled private viewings of homes for sale and rental properties under strict conditions.
ensure that contact tracing of all clients can take place. The likes of
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